I have heard that when man expresses his fears and thoughts, the devil will use them against him. Is this correct?

I have also heard that the devil cannot know what man's heart conceals. Is this also correct?

Please advise.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alyhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

No one knows what the hearts conceal except their Creator The Almighty, for He Says (what means):

{He knows that which deceives the eyes and what the breasts conceal.} [Quran 40:19]

{And Allaah knows what you conceal and what you declare.} [Quran 16:19]

{Indeed, Allaah is knowing of that within the breasts.} [Quran 3:119]

Hence, no human, Jinn, angel or messenger knows what people's hearts conceal except when Allaah The Almighty wills so through Divine revelation to a messenger or a prophet.

However, if one announces what is in his heart and any human or Jinn hears him, then he will of course consequently know it.

Based on this, such a human or Jinn may try to benefit or harm him, but this can never happen without the permission of Allaah The Almighty, who Says about the deities worshipped by the pagans (what means): {He said, "Do they hear you when you supplicate? Or do they benefit you, or do they harm?} [Quran 26:72-73]

The Prophet , said: “…And know (this), that if all people gather to benefit you, they will not benefit you except with that which Allaah has already foreordained (for you); and if they gather to do harm to you, they will not afflict you with anything other than that which Allaah has pre-destined to befall you.” [At-Tirmithi, Ahmad and other narrators, Al-Albaani: Saheeh (Authentic)]

It should be known that the abilities of the Jinn can surpass that of humans. For example, they can see and know one’s affairs while he is unaware. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {O children of Aadam (Adam), let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts. Indeed, he sees you, he and his tribe, from where you do not see them.} [Quran 7:27]

We ask Allaah The Almighty to protect us all against the Jinn and devils, and to separate between them and us with a barrier of His protection, He, indeed, is over all things Competent.